Hand clipper



J. OSTER HAND CLIPPER May 5, 1931.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 15, 1930 May 5, 1931. QSTER 1,803,345

HAND CLIPPER Filed Feb. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 leasing the handles.

Patented May 5, 1931 UNITED STATES A Esr arms JOHN OSTER, F RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIG-NOR TO JOHN OSTER MFG. COMPANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN HAND CLIPPER,

' Application filed February 15, 1930. Serial No. 428,557.

7 This invention relates in general to hand operated hair clippers and more particularly to a novel guide grip for the hand operated type of clipper. I

A type of hand operated hair clipper that has been long known and widely used includes afixedblade or cutting plate to which a handle is rigidly secured. Coacting with the fixed cutting blade is a movable blade or cutting plate which slides back and forth across the fixed plate and which is suitably guided and tensioned and which is actuated or operated by a movable handle supported for pivotal movement on the fixed plate and suitably con- 5? nected to the movable plate. The handles are arranged inproximity and diverge slightly from' each other and are "designed to be gripped in one hand so that the clipper may be operated by alternately gripping and re The proper operation of this type of clipper-requires that thehandles be gripped in exactly the proper manner. Inexperienced operators frequently incorrectly grip the handles and as aconsequence the 5; clipper will not perform satisfactorily. One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide this type of clipper with a thumb rest and guide grip which will compel anyone gripping the handles to grip them properly thereby insuring easy and proper operation of the clipper.

Another object of the invention isto pro vide a device of this character which is of simpleand durable construction, reliable and effective in operation, and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. I

Another important object of the invention is to provide a guide grip and thumb rest of this character which may be in the form of an '40 attachment and which is adjustable so that it may be easily placed upon any of the various types of hand clippers and set to suit the requirements of the user of the; clipper.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, ar-

rangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accom panying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which: 1 Figure 1 is a plan View showing a-hand operated hair clipper equipped with a guide grip and thumb rest embodying the present invention; p

F'gure 2 is a view thereof in sideelevation; Figure 3 is a view in section taken on line 83 of Figure 1 and looking toward the direction of the arrows; p

Figure 4 isa plan view showing, another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is a View in side elevationof the structure shown in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a detailperspective view of the combined guide grip and thumb rest employed in the form of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5. 7

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a fixed blade or cutting plate of the clipper with which'a movable blade 2 coacts, the blade 2 sliding back and forth across the'fixed blade 1 and being constrained to proper movement by the provision of guide lugs 3 formed on a combination housing and tension cap 4, the lugs 3 fitting-in grooves 2 of the movable cutting blade 2. The housing and tension cap 4 is held in position by means of a post 5 upstanding from the fixed blade or cutting plate 1 and having a thumb nut 6 threaded on its upper end and engaging a tension washer 7 interposed between the nut and the'top of the housing 4. The rear end of the housing 4: has a boss 8 which engages the rear end. of the plate 1. A fixed handle 9 is, integrally formed with the housing 4 and since the handle 9 is fixed to the housing it is also fixed in its relation to the blade 1, which is rigidly secured to the housing 4. A spring biased movable handle 10 is provided and, in accordance with the usual practice, has a bearing sleeve 11 fitted on a bearing bushing 12 which is secured to the housing 4 and fitted on the post The bearing sleeve 11 of the housing has the usual crank arm not shown) which is interfitted w'th the blade 2 so that as the handle 10 is oscillated about the post 5 as an axis the blade 2 will be reciprocated back and forth across the plate 1 due to the move ment of the handle 10 toward the fixed handle 9 by the operator and the return movement of the handle 10 by its biasing spring. The construction thus far described is that of the conventional hand clipper which is well known and widely used. It is to be understood that while one type of construction has been illustrated and briefly and gen erally described that the present invention is capable of use with various types of constructions.

The present invention proposes the provision of a combined thumb rest and guide grip designated generally at 15 which may be conveniently constructed of sheet metal and which has its body portion of concave-convex formation to receive the thumb of the user. At its lower end the thumb rest and guide grip 15 is provided with an angularly extended attaching portion 16 which is apertured to fit over the upper end of the post 5 thereby permitting the nut 6 and washer 5 to function to secure the thumb rest and guide grip 15 in proper position. One portion of the thumb rest and guide grip 15 overlaps and engages the lower portion of the fixed handle 9 so that rotation of the thumb rest and guide grip 15 is precluded.

As shown, the fixed handle 9 has a guide lug 20 and the movable handle has a guide lug 21. In using the clipper, the operator places his right hand over the handles and allows the guide lug 21 to enter between his index finger and the middle finger while the guide lug 22 is positioned in the crotch be tween the hand and the base of the thumb. Ihe thumb rest 15 is engaged by the outer end of the thumb. With the thumb rest on the clipper it is practically an impossibility to grip or hold the clipper in any other manner, and when so held, the operator, by alternately closing and opening his hand, will be able not only to actuate the movable blade of the clipper but also to properly guide and manipulate the entire clipper.

In Figures 4 and 5 the hand operated clipper is shown which is similar in construction to the clipper illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 and hereinabove described. It is to be understood, however, that these clippers are of different sizes and styles. In this form of the invention the combined thumb rest and guide grip is designated generally at 30 and has an apertured attaching portion 31 fitted over the post 5 and held in position by the tension nut 6. lVith this provision made for attachment, the combined thumb rest and guide grip may be applied to any of the various types of clippers. As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 the dished body portion 01? the combined thumb rest and guide grip is positioned so as to lie just inside of the lower end of the fixed handle 9. To hold the combined thumb rest and guide grip against turning movement on the post 5, a hook-like gripper 32 is provided and is adapted to embrace and grip the fixed handle 9. This hook-like gripper 82 as well as the shank of the attaching portion 31 are made somewhat bendable or resilient so that they may be bent by the operator to position the combined guide grip and thumb rest 30 to best suit the individual operators requirements. Of course, the parts 31 and 32, While being susceptible of bending by the application of suitable pressure in order to provide for the adjustments mentioned, are sufliciently stilt and strong to enable them to firmly hold the combined guide grip and thumb rest in proper position.

i From the foregoing itwill be understood that the combined thumb rest or guide grip is primarily in the nature of an attachment adapted for association with any of the various types of clippers now in use. However, the invention may be embodied in the permanent structure of the clipper and in either event acts to guide the hand of the operator and to insure the operator properly gripping the clipper whereby control of the clipper is enhanced and its operation is less tiring.

The invention claimed is:

1. In combination with a hand operated hair clipper having a fixed and a movable blade, a fixed handle rigidly connected to the fixed blade, a movable handle connected to the movable blade for operating the same, and housing and tensioning means for the movable blade, a combined thumb rest and guide grip including a body portion of concavo-convex form positioned adjacent and engaging the lower end of the fixed handle and having an attaching portion engaged by the tensioning means whereby the combined thumb rest and guide grip is secured in position.

2. In a hair clipper, an attachment for insuring proper gripping or" the clipper and for facilitating manipulation thereof and comprising a combined thumb rest and guide grip including a body portion adapted to be engaged by the thumb and an apertured attaching portion adapted to be secured in position on the post of the clipper by the usual tension nut of the clipper, said body portion also having'means engageable with the fixed handle of the clipper to prevent turning of the combined thumb rest and guide grip about the post as an axis.

3. In a hair clipper, an attachment for insuring proper gripping of the clipper and for facilitating manipulation thereof and comprising a combined thumb rest and guide grip including a body portion adapted to be engaged by the thumb and an apertured attaching portion adapted to be secured in position on the post of the clipper by the usual tension nut of the clipper, said body portion also having a bendable hook engageable with the fixed handle of the clipper to prevent turning of the combined thumb rest and guide grip about the post as an axis.

In Witness whereof, I hereto afiix my signature.

JOHN OSTER. 

